A3634 —

A3634 AHI1R Statement[First 06/18/18Reprint] ASSEMBLY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE   STATEMENT TO   ASSEMBLY, No.

3634  STATE withOF committeeNEW amendmentsJERSEY  218th STATELEGISLATURE OFINTRODUCED NEWMARCH JERSEY12, 2018   DATED:  Sponsored by:

 JUNEAssemblywoman  18,MILA 2018M.        The Assembly Higher Education Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No.

3634JASEY withDistrict committee27 amendments.(Essex and Morris) Assemblywoman  NANCY J.

    PINKIN AsDistrict amended,18 this(Middlesex) bill  provides  that  the  standardSYNOPSIS number     ofProvides creditsthat requiredno formore thethan award120 ofcredits awill be required for baccalaureate degree awarded by a public institution of higher education, beginning with students who initially enter the institution in the fall semester of 2019, will be 120 credit hours, and inno themore casethan of60 thecredits awardfor of an associate degreedegree. by a county college, 60 credit hours.

      TheCURRENT billVERSION stipulatesOF thatTEXT the standard number of credit hours will not apply if the degree program is defined as a five-year degree program in the case of a four-year institution or more than a two-year degree program in the case of a county college.  The standard number of credit hours also will not apply if professional accreditation requires a greater number of credit hours or requires course work that cannot be completed within those credit hours, or if certification requirements result in a need for additional credit hours.       TheAs billreported requiresby the SecretaryAssembly of Higher Education toCommittee establish standards for the purposes of complying with the credit hour limits established by the bill for institutions of higher education that use nontraditional course credit systems.  Within 180 days of the bill’s effective date, a four-year public institution or a county college that uses a nontraditional course credit system is required to submit a written request to the secretary for permission to comply with the credit hour limit in accordance with the standards established by the secretary.  Within 60 days of the written request, the secretary will advise the institution on whetherJune the18, institution2018, may meet the credit hour limit in accordance with thoseamendments. standards.

      TheAn billAct authorizesconcerning theassociate governingand boardbaccalaureate ofdegree aprograms publicand institution,supplementing inchapter consultation62 withof theTitle secretary,18A toof approve additional exceptions to the bill’sNew standardJersey creditStatutes. hour requirements.

       AsBe amendedIt andEnacted reported by the committee,Senate thisand billGeneral isAssembly identicalof tothe SenateState Billof No.New Jersey:

1265,  which      also1.   wasa.  reportedNotwithstanding bythe provisions of any section of law to the committeecontrary onand thisexcept sameas date.otherwise provided pursuant to subsection b.

COMMITTEEof AMENDMENTS:this section, beginning with students who initially enroll in a baccalaureate degree program in the fall semester of 2019, the standard number of credits required for the award of a baccalaureate degree from a four-year public institution of higher education is credit hours.

          b.   The committeestandard amendednumber theof billcredit to:hours established pursuant to subsection a.

·         Direct the Secretary of Higherthis Educationsection toshall establishnot standardsapply forif: complying with the credit hour limits for institutions of higher education that use nontraditional course credit systems;

·              Provide(1)  thatthe institutionsdegree usingprogram nontraditionalis coursedefined creditas systems will submit a writtenfive-year requestdegree toprogram; the secretary for permission to comply with the credit hour limit within 180 days of the bill’s effective date;

and      ·        (2)  Requireprofessional theaccreditation secretaryrequires toa submitgreater annumber annualof reportcredit tohours theor Governorrequires andcourse Legislaturework onthat thecannot numberbe institutionscompleted that are in compliance120 withcredits; the bill’s provisions.

or       (3)  certification requirements result in a need for credit hours in excess of 120.

      1c.  (1) The Secretary of Higher Education shall establish standards for the purposes of complying with the credit hour limit established by this section for institutions of higher education that use nontraditional course credit systems.

      (2)  Within days of the effective date of this act, a four-year public institution of higher education that uses a nontraditional course credit system shall submit a written request to the secretary for permission to comply with the credit hour limit in accordance with the standards established by the secretary pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection.  The request shall provide information on why the institution is not able to comply with the requirements of subsection a.

of this section and shall include such other information as the secretary deems necessary.  Within 60 days of the submission of the request, the secretary shall advise the institution on whether it may meet the credit hour limit in accordance with the standards established by the secretary.1         2.   a.  Notwithstanding the provisions of any section of law to the contrary and except as otherwise provided pursuant to subsection b.

of this section, beginning with students who initially enroll in an associate degree program in the fall semester of 2019, the standard number of credit hours required for the award of an associate degree from a county college is 60 credit hours.

      b.   The standard number of credit hours established pursuant to subsection a.

of this section shall not apply if:

      (1)  the degree program is defined as more than a two-year degree program;

      (2)  professional accreditation requires a greater number of credit hours or requires course work that cannot be completed in 60 credits;

or       (3)  certification requirements result in a need for credit hours in excess of 60.

      1c.  (1) The Secretary of Higher Education shall establish standards for the purposes of complying with the credit hour limit established by this section for institutions of higher education that use nontraditional course credit systems.

      (2) Within 180 days of the effective date of this act, a county college that uses a nontraditional course credit system shall submit a written request to the secretary for permission to comply with the credit hour limit in accordance with the standards established by the secretary pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection.  The request shall provide information on why the county college is not able to comply with the requirements of subsection a.

of this section and shall include such other information as the secretary deems necessary.  Within 60 days of the submission of the request, the secretary shall advise the county college on whether it may meet the credit hour limit in accordance with the standards established by the secretary.1        3.    The governing board of a public institution of higher education, in consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education, may approve exceptions to the credit hour requirements in addition to those established pursuant to subsection b.

of sections 1 and 2 of this act.

        14.   Within 60 days of the effective date of this act and annually thereafter, the secretary shall submit a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on the number of four-year public institutions of higher education and county colleges that are in compliance with the provisions of this act.1        1[4.]  5.1    This act shall take effect immediately.